The father of Pittsburgh Penguins Quebec defender Kristopher Letang died on Sunday.
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At least that’s what TVA Sports hockey expert Renaud Lavoie reported on Monday. Letang is with his family in the Montreal area, and will therefore miss the Winter Classic between his team and the Boston Bruins, at Fenway Park.
Bad luck seems to hang on the Quebecer who, last November, suffered a second stroke. However, he had avoided the worst by quickly going to consult the doctors when the first symptoms appeared.
Hurt
A lower-body injury kept him out of a game against the New Jersey Devils on Friday, and a statement from the organization released on Sunday after he missed practice hinted his absence from the Classic for the same reason.
Comments from some of his teammates, however, suggest that the Penguins were more concerned with preserving Letang’s privacy.
“It’s definitely not something you want for your teammates,” said Quebecer Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Health is a priority in people’s lives. I think it’s important that he takes care of himself and spends time with his family. We have to stay positive for him. We are all here for him.”
Letang has 146 goals and 666 points in 970 career National Hockey League (NHL) games, all with the Penguins.